Showing posts with label Thanksgiving Cranberry Sauces. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thanksgiving Cranberry Sauces. Show all posts

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Fresh Cranberry Relish

  • 12 oz. (3 cups) fresh or frozen cranberries, picked through and rinsed
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 1 Tbs. finely grated orange zest

Combine the cranberries, sugar, vinegar, and orange zest in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Transfer to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate at least 1 hour to develop the flavors.

Jellied Cranberry-Orange Sauce

With delicate notes of orange and clove and a bright, sweet-tart cranberry flavor, this ruby-red sauce puts the canned stuff to shame.
  • 12 oz. (3 cups) cranberries, rinsed and picked over
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 strips orange zest (each 1/2 x 3 inches)
  • 1 whole clove

In a 4-quart saucepan, combine the ingredients with 1 cup of water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the berries are mostly broken down and the liquid has thickened slightly, about 10 minutes.

While it’s still hot, force the mixture through a medium-mesh sieve set over a bowl, pressing hard on the solids with a spatula. Be sure to scrape the mixture from the bottom of the strainer. Whisk well and then transfer to a 2-cup bowl or mold. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Cover with plastic wrap once cool.

To unmold, invert the bowl onto a small serving plate and shake it side to side until the sauce slips onto the plate.

Maple-Tangerine Cranberry Sauce

The tartness of fresh cranberries is tempered by the sweet counterpoint of maple syrup in this twist on a classic.
  • 2 cups strained fresh tangerine juice (5 to 6 tangerines)
  • 12 oz. fresh or frozen cranberries (3 cups)
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup pure maple syrup, preferably grade B
  • 3-inch cinnamon stick
  • 1 tsp. finely grated tangerine zest
  • Pinch kosher salt

In a 10-inch skillet combine all the ingredients. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat and then reduce to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has thickened somewhat and looks slightly syrupy, about 30 minutes. Remove the cinnamon stick and let the cranberry sauce cool in the pan—it will thicken more as it cools. Serve at room temperature.

Cranberry Sauce with Caramelized Onions

Slow-cooked onions bring extra flavor to this simple sauce, and cloves add warmth.
  • 1 Tbs. vegetable or canola oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, cut into medium dice
  • 1/8 tsp. ground cloves
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • One 12-oz. bag fresh or thawed frozen cranberries, rinsed and picked over (3-1/2 cups)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar

In a 10-inch straight-sided sauté pan or skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions, cloves, a pinch of salt, and a grind or two of pepper. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are golden-brown and very soft, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the lid, increase the heat to medium high, and cook the onions, stirring often, until deep caramel-brown, an additional 2 to 3 minutes.

Add the cranberries, sugar, a pinch of salt, and 1/2 cup water and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Simmer for 1 minute, then cover, turn off the heat, and let cool to room temperature.

Cranberry-Orange Relish with Ginger

This ginger-tinged relish is more tart than sweet -- a perfect complement to the holiday bird. You can make it the day ahead, if you like.
  • One 12-oz. package fresh cranberries, picked over and stemmed
  • 1 small navel orange, including the peel, cut into eighths
  • A generous 1/3 cup roughly chopped crystallized ginger
  • 1 Tbs. granulated sugar
  • 1/4 tsp. kosher salt

In a food processor, combine the cranberries, orange, crystallized ginger, sugar, and salt. Process until coarsely ground, stopping once or twice to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Transfer to a serving bowl, cover, and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Pear, Cranberry, and Blood Orange Mostarda

Serve this punchy northern Italian condiment with roast pork, turkey, or game birds, or spread it on crostini with Robiola or Camembert cheese.
  • 1 medium blood orange
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 1 fresh bay leaf or 1/2 dried
  • 1 cup dry white wine
  • 2 Tbs. mild honey, such as clover
  • 1 Tbs. brown mustard seeds
  • 1 Tbs. yellow mustard seeds
  • Kosher salt
  • 2 medium firm-ripe pears (preferably Bosc), peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch dice
  • 1 cup fresh cranberries

Peel a 1x3-inch strip of zest from the orange. Trim off any white pith from the strip with a paring knife and put the zest in a 3-quart saucepan. Trim away the remaining orange peel and cut the segments free from the membranes, letting them fall into the saucepan. Squeeze the juice from the membranes into the saucepan.


Tie the rosemary and bay leaf into a cheesecloth bundle and add to the saucepan along with the wine, honey, mustard seeds, and 1 tsp. salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until the honey dissolves and the flavors meld a bit, about 2 minutes.


Add the pears and cranberries and return to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the fruit is tender and the liquid is syrupy, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the heat, discard the herb bundle and zest, and let cool. Serve at room temperature. It will keep in the refrigerator for 1 week.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Cranberry-Pear Salsa

With a spicy jolt from the serrano chile, this salsa is a refreshing take on the traditional accompaniment to a roasted bird, yet the flavors blend gracefully and don't overwhelm. Leftovers are delicious with tortilla chips or spread on a turkey sandwich.
  • 12 oz. fresh cranberries, picked over and stemmed
  • 1-1/2 cups peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped pears (about 2 medium or 1 large)
  • 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 fresh serrano chile, cored, seeded, and minced
  • 1 tsp. finely grated orange zest
  • 2 Tbs. fresh orange juice
  • 1 Tbs. canola oil
  • Pinch salt

Coarsely chop the cranberries (or pulse them in a food processor until coarsely chopped). Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and toss gently. Taste and adjust the seasonings.

Fresh Cranberry Relish

  • 12 oz. (3 cups) fresh or frozen cranberries, picked through and rinsed
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 1 Tbs. finely grated orange zest

Combine the cranberries, sugar, vinegar, and orange zest in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Transfer to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate at least 1 hour to develop the flavors.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Pear, Cranberry, and Blood Orange Mostarda

Serve this punchy northern Italian condiment with roast pork, turkey, or game birds, or spread it on crostini with Robiola or Camembert cheese.
  • 1 medium blood orange
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 1 fresh bay leaf or 1/2 dried
  • 1 cup dry white wine
  • 2 Tbs. mild honey, such as clover
  • 1 Tbs. brown mustard seeds
  • 1 Tbs. yellow mustard seeds
  • Kosher salt
  • 2 medium firm-ripe pears (preferably Bosc), peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch dice
  • 1 cup fresh cranberries

Peel a 1x3-inch strip of zest from the orange. Trim off any white pith from the strip with a paring knife and put the zest in a 3-quart saucepan. Trim away the remaining orange peel and cut the segments free from the membranes, letting them fall into the saucepan. Squeeze the juice from the membranes into the saucepan.


Tie the rosemary and bay leaf into a cheesecloth bundle and add to the saucepan along with the wine, honey, mustard seeds, and 1 tsp. salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until the honey dissolves and the flavors meld a bit, about 2 minutes.


Add the pears and cranberries and return to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the fruit is tender and the liquid is syrupy, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the heat, discard the herb bundle and zest, and let cool. Serve at room temperature. It will keep in the refrigerator for 1 week.